Chapter 100
Arteon, upon arriving at the victory banquet hall, found himself in a predicament. It was because Jeffrey showed no sign of recognizing him at all.
It was fortunate that he hadn’t rashly pretended to know him. If he had, it would surely have led to complications.
‘Why aren’t they coming?’
Arteon’s gaze kept drifting toward the entrance.
The banquet was nearing its end, yet Reina and Kaiden had not appeared.
As long as Jeffrey didn’t remember him, detaining him didn’t seem easy.
He needed to buy time somehow until the two arrived.
It was around then that he swallowed dryly, growing anxious.
‘They’re here!’
When the awaited pair entered, Arteon wore a welcoming expression.
They exchanged glances. Reina headed straight toward Black.
“Congratulations on your victory.”
Black stared blankly at Reina, who wore a mask.
He bowed his head perfunctorily and tried to leave, but she blocked his path.
After several such meaningless standoffs, Black stared at her intently.
“Please step aside.”
Perhaps due to the mask, Black regarded her with an exceedingly cold expression.
Reina gazed piercingly at her long-unseen brother.
Up close, his face appeared even more gaunt. The once gentle Jeffrey had transformed into someone sharp and rugged.
‘I’m just glad he’s alive.’
Yes. As long as he was alive, that was enough.
It was fine even if he didn’t remember her.
She could make him remember and teach him again.
As Mikael had said, Black wore a piercing with a red gem on his right earlobe.
A sinister energy lurked around the eerily blood-red stone.
The thought that this was constricting her brother tore at her heart.
Reina spoke up.
“I’d like to talk in private.”
“It’s policy not to engage in separate conversations with members. If you have something to say, please do so here.”
Jeffrey expressed his refusal in a businesslike manner.
He seemed to regard it as the unreasonable demand of an overly enthusiastic fan.
With no other choice, Reina removed her mask.
It was to check first if he recognized her.
Her platinum blonde hair cascaded in waves. Her pale blue eyes, heavy with emotion, gazed at Black.
“!”
Jeffrey froze like ice, not even twitching. Their gazes clashed in midair.
“This is unacceptable! Put your mask back on! If you refuse, you’ll be escorted out.”
The staff intervened at Reina’s impulsive action.
However, they couldn’t lay a finger on her.
In that moment, a strong aura barrier formed around where Reina and Jeffrey stood.
“Everyone, stop.”
At the ensuing chilling voice, the staff halted abruptly.
Kaiden stepped in front of the two. Several nobles who recognized him by his aura gasped.
Even with a mask, his imposing presence couldn’t be concealed.
In the midst of the taut tension, one staff member tried to approach stealthily.
Whoosh—! Boom!
A sword forged from aura embedded itself right in front of the staff member’s nose. As the startled staff fell back, Kaiden warned icily.
“Don’t interfere. One more step, and I’ll take it as permission to kill.”
As he gripped the aura-forged sword firmly, everyone froze.
They could sense it wasn’t an empty threat.
With him revealing his identity in the arena and issuing threats, everyone backed off.
In the end, no one dared linger near them.
Thanks to that, Reina could speak comfortably to Jeffrey.
“Jeffrey, do you recognize me?”
“……”
Reina keenly observed his emotional shifts using Ritsy’s power.
Noticing a flicker of agitation, Reina smiled brightly in relief.
At least he hadn’t completely forgotten her.
With an expression on the verge of tears, Reina greeted him.
“It’s been so long, brother.”
“……”
“I’ve been waiting for you to come back for such a long time.”
After finishing her words, Reina embraced Jeffrey.
Even then, Jeffrey remained silent, as if struck mute.
Those in the banquet hall began to murmur.
The sudden appearance of the Crencia couple.
And the princess Reina, hugging the champion while saying she wanted to see him, protected by the duke.
As those unable to grasp the situation floundered.
Someone muttered in passing.
“……Come to think of it, they look remarkably alike.”
That remark sparked exclamations from all around.
“Could it be Prince Jeffrey?”
“You mean the prince who went missing four years ago?”
“Wasn’t he dead?”
The hall turned into chaos in an instant. Jolted by the noise, Jeffrey pushed Reina away.
“Jeffrey……”
At the sudden loss of warmth, Reina wore a disappointed expression.
Seeing this, Jeffrey flinched. Just as he was about to explain that it wasn’t rejection.
“What is all this commotion about…… Ah, it turns out to be the most famous figures in the capital these days.”
With a low voice, a man wearing a master mask entered the hall.
Reina recognized him at a glance.
Simon Zeke. The final decision-maker of this arena and Julid’s dog.
His gaze lingered briefly on Jeffrey before shifting to Reina.
“I am the manager of this arena, Simon Zeke.”
“I happen to have something to ask you.”
“It would be best to move elsewhere first. There are too many eyes here.”
Then Simon fixed his gaze on Kaiden.
“Please calm your anger and retract your aura, Duke Crencia.”
Only then did Kaiden withdraw his aura. He had already toned it down somewhat by the time Simon arrived.
“Now, then, please enjoy yourselves once more.”
With a single clap from Simon, the staff swiftly tidied up the surroundings.
Some still showed interest in their direction but didn’t dare approach.
“We’ll go this way.”
As they followed Simon, Reina signaled to Arteon.
Don’t follow; wait here.
* * *
The top-floor manager’s office of the arena.
Reina and Kaiden scrutinized Simon. With his mask removed, his fox-like features and elongated eyes made his thoughts inscrutable.
Simon brought out tea and said lightly.
“This is tea leaves air-shipped from the Rodika Empire last time. I only serve it to esteemed guests.”
Reina merely glared at the teacup without drinking. Seeing this, Simon savored his own tea first and said.
“There’s no poison or anything. Many people saw the princess at the banquet earlier; if you died, it would be hard to clear the suspicion, wouldn’t it?”
“Let’s cut to the chase. Are you the one who brought Black here?”
“He came here on his own. It was fortuitous, as I was looking for a suitable new talent. I only learned his name this time.”
“You mean you didn’t know he was Jeffrey Eve Mernie?”
As Reina mentioned his full name, Simon’s narrow eyes curved.
“You’re saying something strange. This place is a kingdom I created. Identities outside the arena don’t matter. It’s a game where only the strong survive, isn’t it?”
Simon wore a vile smile, treating Jeffrey like a chess piece.
Whether he knew his identity or not, the important thing was that Jeffrey could no longer be left here.
Reina declared firmly.
“Black is my brother. I don’t want to leave him in a place like this anymore.”
“Is that so?”
Simon sipped his tea, seeming utterly uninterested.
At his uncooperative attitude, Reina’s voice gained force.
“Release Black. If not……”
“Very well.”
“……What?”
Reina, who had been continuing her words anticipating resistance, wore a dazed expression.
Simon grinned broadly and said.
“I’m not some villainous boss who shackles players with contracts.”
